tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88747944486166908402024-03-21T12:27:05.910-07:00ramble onmelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-36111381811731494432010-10-13T21:21:00.001-07:002010-10-13T21:24:13.859-07:00EnnuiBored to Death - I think I might be in love. With Jason or Jonathon, or Ted, I'm not sure who. The whole think is just delicious. Long live HBO, or ach bay o as they said in Mexico...<br /><br />Oh, and is anyone still out there? I know I've been gone a terribly long time... <br /><br />Helllloooooooooooo<br /><br />Did Facebook kill the blog?melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-71047474074848786202010-02-20T22:40:00.001-08:002010-02-20T22:41:03.584-08:00ramblingsIt was as if standing somehow <em></em>offended<em></em> her. Anything was tolerable, she thought, if she could just sit down. Then she thought, this just can't be normal!melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-18997458387224149142009-11-14T15:38:00.000-08:002009-11-14T15:42:02.954-08:00I just need a compass...<br /><br />and a willing accomplice...<br /><br />All my doubts that fill my head are skidding up and down again<br />Up and down and round again, down and up and round again.<br /><br />Oh, I've had my chances and I've taken them all.<br />Just to end up right back here on the floor.<br />To end up right back here in on the floor.<br /><br />Love just needs a witness<br />and a little forgiveness;<br />And a halo of patience<br />... and a less sporadic pace<br /><br /><em>~Pink</em>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-80698204173363863642009-09-11T20:32:00.000-07:002009-09-11T20:33:27.606-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP4CQdp1uEvs7OGqHyK-ZhbV805XFrH4xr-SfMndBSGuHqSsagqin1EU4UEt8scot7jsN0p8giS722U99yMg8yDzXT6c_W4tal3W-jQ6nsqyZtKtCInRltwhGsC6P6TtroaTw6Ic9pVo/s1600-h/911.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380418926460462914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP4CQdp1uEvs7OGqHyK-ZhbV805XFrH4xr-SfMndBSGuHqSsagqin1EU4UEt8scot7jsN0p8giS722U99yMg8yDzXT6c_W4tal3W-jQ6nsqyZtKtCInRltwhGsC6P6TtroaTw6Ic9pVo/s400/911.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-50774839652713472492009-09-11T20:10:00.001-07:002009-09-11T20:31:30.987-07:00I rememberA post about the anniversary of 9/11 was one of the last posts I made on my old blog. It's hard to believe that was 3 years ago, and even harder to believe that 9/11 was eight years ago. So much has changed for me personally in the past 8 years -my job (twice) , my address (twice), my status as an aunt (twice) and my status as a parent ( twice? almost.)<br /><br />It's amazing though, how much I remember about that day eight years ago.<br /><br />I remember-<br /><span class="UIStory_Message">the blue skies that day...that my co-worker <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Alaina</span> was the one to tell me what was going on...calling Kevin to make sure he was watching TV...receiving calls from friends and family who couldn't believe what had happened and who just <span class="text_exposed_show">wanted to talk to the people they loved...the L&C tower being evacuated....the panic on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">everyone's</span> face as they looked up at the roofs of buildings....</span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">I remember-</span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">getting out of downtown with Sandy for lunch...trying (and failing) to act normally during a job interview I had that afternoon.. the pinstripe jacket I wore to the interview....the long lines at the gas pumps...Keisha coming over to watch the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">coverag</span><span class="text_exposed_show">e...the peace rally...how strangers spoke to each other in the elevator the next day... a friend's child's drawing of a plane and a building...</span></span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show">I remember-<span class="UIStory_Message"> <div id="id_4aab145b3c3e51e7aa834" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">how scared I was when I flew 3 weeks later...how 107.5 played the Star-Spangled Banner every morning for a while afterwards....feeling lucky...and then guilty about feeling lucky....Tom Brokaw crying (did that really happen?)...and all t<span class="text_exposed_show">he missing posters.</span></div><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span> </div><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed"><span class="text_exposed_show">May we never forget. God bless us all.</span></div></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span><br /><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-19820079839379887822009-06-04T18:42:00.000-07:002009-06-04T20:08:54.056-07:00Me againOh, how I wanted to be a parent, but oh how I did not want to be a parent that lost my identity completely, that put <em>everything</em> about me aside. So I'm glad to be back here. Yeah, it took me 6 months to get back here, but I'm here. And I want to talk about -of all things- politics. ?! Yes, politics.<br /><br />I have never been very political. OK, to be completely honest, I've been downright apathetic. I have in the past, ashamedly, had the opinion that whether the President was a Democrat or a Republican had little bearing on me personally. I have never felt terribly strongly one way or the other. My knee-jerk reaction was always to say that I am a Democrat, but if pressed, I would have had trouble articulating the reasons why.<br /><br />During the last election, though, I decided to do some research and try to fully understand my knee-jerk party affiliation. I decided to poll all of my Republican friends and acquaintances to see why they were voting for McCain. This is a sampling of what I got:<br /><br /><span style="color:#330099;">"He's a war hero."</span> That alone didn't convince me.<br /><span style="color:#330099;">"He's been around forever."</span> Again, not moved.<br /><span style="color:#330099;">"He's old. It's his last chance. Obama has plenty of time to be elected.</span> "<strong> </strong>Seriously?<br /><span style="color:#330099;">"I feel bad for him. He's a little old man. He can't even comb his hair." </span><span style="color:#000000;">Pity? That's a reason?</span><br /><span style="color:#330099;">"I'm scared of Obama. I think he is a Muslim."</span><br /><span style="color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I finally gave up. Oh, I heard a few arguments that were better articulated, but nothing convincing. And the majority of the arguments I heard were similar to the crap above.</span><br /><br />Today I tried again. After I read the transcript of Obama's speech in Cairo, I decided to get the opinion of two people I work with that I knew would have some criticism. I was generally interested in hearing their side. I thought, "Maybe I'm missing something." I am, admittedly, not a student of politics. Maybe I could learn something, I foolishly thought.<br /><br />I listened to them bash the speech and Obama for a few minutes. Then I asked, ,"So you watched the speech?" They hadn't. "Oh, well I didn't watch it either. I read the transcript. Did you read the transcript?" They hadn't.<br /><br />AARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH<br /><br />They said they didn't like the way "things feel." They thought that Obama had deep seated roots in Islam. That he was secretly a Muslim. They scoffed at his use of "assalaamu alaykum." They snorted at the fact that he quoted from the Koran, and said he probably didn't quote from the Bible. ( He did.) They talked about how he once said that that America wasn't a Christian nation. They really went on about that one. I don't know if he said it or not. Maybe he did. But are we? As much as we might want to be, are we? Are we really? Yes, somewhere between 70-80% of Amercians <em>say</em> they are Christians. But are 70-80% of the people you come in contact with every day Christians? Look around. Does it look like a Christian nation to you? Do I want the leader of our country to be a Christian? Sure. But can you or I ever really be sure if they really are?<br /><br />Anyway, I was disappointed again. They spew so much criticisim of Obama and the people who voted for him. They say those people are stupid, and then give stupid reasons like the ones I've listed here.<br /><br />Maybe we're all stupid.<br /><br />O.K. this post has run out of steam.<br /><br />More later. Hopefully not six months later, but later.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-87059464899033597082008-12-26T19:35:00.000-08:002008-12-26T19:37:50.545-08:00I never run out of quotes<em>At times the world can seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe us when we say that there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough. And what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may, in fact, be the first steps of a journey...</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>~Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events</em><br /><em></em>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-73435069639833234312008-12-20T18:35:00.001-08:002008-12-20T18:35:32.804-08:00<em>You know the thing about chaos. It's fair.</em>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-87652536100542570012008-12-14T17:18:00.001-08:002008-12-14T17:29:02.789-08:00Do you know what I know?<em>Said the night wind to the little lamb,</em><br /><em>Do you see what I see?</em><br /><em>Way up in the sky, little lamb?</em><br /><em>Do you see what I see?</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>A star, a star, dancing in the night,</em><br /><em>With a tail as big as a kite,</em><br /><em>With a tail as big as a kite.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,</em><br /><em>Do you hear what I hear?</em><br /><em>Ringing through the sky shepherd boy,</em><br /><em>Do you hear what I hear?</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>A song, a song, high above the tree,</em><br /><em>With a voice as big as the sea,</em><br /><em>With a voice as big as the sea. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Said the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shepherd</span> boy to the mighty king,</em><br /><em>Do you know what I know?</em><br /><em>A child, a child, shivers in the cold, </em><br /><em>Let us bring him silver and gold,</em><br /><em>Let us bring him silver and gold. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Said the king to the people everywhere,</em><br /><em>Listen to what I say,</em><br /><em>Pray for peace people everywhere,</em><br /><em>Listen to what I say.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>The child, the child, sleeping in the night,</em><br /><em>He will bring us goodness and light.</em><br /><em>The child, the child, sleeping in the night,<br />He will bring us goodness and light.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em></em><br />I hope this Christmas season during all the hustle and bustle that you take a second and know what I know -that God is good, and that we are all blessed.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-34004130901119720352008-12-11T18:41:00.000-08:002008-12-14T17:14:11.888-08:00Once there were two women,<br />who barely knew each other.<br />One you don't know yet,<br />the other you call Mother.<br /><br />Two different lives shaped to make yours one<br />One became your guiding star,<br />The other became your sun.<br /><br />The first gave you life,<br />and the second taught you to live in it.<br />The first gave you a need for love,<br />And the second was there to give it.<br /><br />One gave you emotions,<br />The other calmed your fears.<br />One saw your first sweet smile,<br />The other dried your tears.<br /><br />One gave you up - it was all that she could do.<br />The other prayed for a child,<br />And God led her straight to you.<br /><br />So, you ask me one day, heredity or environment<br />what are you the product of?<br /><br />Neither, my darling, neither.<br /><br />Just two different kinds of love.<br /><br /><em>-Anonymous</em>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-65751500190686831902008-12-11T18:38:00.001-08:002008-12-11T18:58:46.679-08:00Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3eoPuE92CQ_-hi-JzgJa6iRjqxt7uFwAj4i9IBspxITHH98nEwhTSiTjycD9k7bvHv_TlYTNQon_xcKyyrLWqgBumJf_zjE-k58QhDR9oKCUpRhpEDYS_KrL5XLTZzngyBohyphenhyphenB1_iKE/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278727674535182050" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3eoPuE92CQ_-hi-JzgJa6iRjqxt7uFwAj4i9IBspxITHH98nEwhTSiTjycD9k7bvHv_TlYTNQon_xcKyyrLWqgBumJf_zjE-k58QhDR9oKCUpRhpEDYS_KrL5XLTZzngyBohyphenhyphenB1_iKE/s400/4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZq6ETJFdQ4JcXC_OW6jgNfe85mCghX6nHzH7K8TVLXwkJ4IepoiosZKoXXqXsYNG70DqEdBKgyrgJoT5ugVzX7Ynv-JUqFPPpHHt1YDO9cE2p9XxJ6_dSCbWbwBfb_cX853psSWga-wo/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278727673129860850" style="WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZq6ETJFdQ4JcXC_OW6jgNfe85mCghX6nHzH7K8TVLXwkJ4IepoiosZKoXXqXsYNG70DqEdBKgyrgJoT5ugVzX7Ynv-JUqFPPpHHt1YDO9cE2p9XxJ6_dSCbWbwBfb_cX853psSWga-wo/s400/3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5LblA4gq_OxjsntlCQAvKVdZV67hrO8agoFzP0h3Ow2vXsxwhxNUpwyLomQxInhdLThB8xKXgLAReW0DKx30YbD3x7biuVgE05NxVlA00-5CtY3U6FRS3f9bemie4XRuamKPMSunI5w/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278727667098887682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5LblA4gq_OxjsntlCQAvKVdZV67hrO8agoFzP0h3Ow2vXsxwhxNUpwyLomQxInhdLThB8xKXgLAReW0DKx30YbD3x7biuVgE05NxVlA00-5CtY3U6FRS3f9bemie4XRuamKPMSunI5w/s400/2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJs3b-g8cX1_EqEFh_jiEt6bq-XAxRvQQgyiTJzGKINO6SsRGtpIzjWS8fOe2wAsApTP5ohkL4t93cFaaGBmiyZkIVYs3aoBHfBq0PvA7OwRK9TCwZD4kE4_cE159QtkLuHoBiCU97MU/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278727666846270402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJs3b-g8cX1_EqEFh_jiEt6bq-XAxRvQQgyiTJzGKINO6SsRGtpIzjWS8fOe2wAsApTP5ohkL4t93cFaaGBmiyZkIVYs3aoBHfBq0PvA7OwRK9TCwZD4kE4_cE159QtkLuHoBiCU97MU/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-61212582389994833032008-12-04T19:29:00.000-08:002009-04-19T13:46:21.186-07:00HopeWe put up our Christmas tree tonight. We had just finished straightening the branches (it's an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">artificial</span> tree and it's on it's last leg, more on that later), when I ran upstairs to find my favorite ornament. I found it - wrapped gently in paper and then again in bubble wrap, and stored in a box marked EXTREMELY FRAGILE. I took it out of the box and watched the lights from the tree reflect on its shiny surface. I'm not even sure who gave me this ornament - it might have been Document Solutions - a vendor I used for the 8 years or so I worked downtown, and who always bought their clients a unique ornament for Christmas. I really think it may have been my friend Tish, though, but I just can't say for sure.<br /><br />It's a penguin. A cute little penguin, with an adorable round little belly, red shiny shoes and a red and white scarf. It's made out of a very fragile material -like glass, but much, much more fragile. It glitters and sparkles. Its cute little head is covered with some sort of gold-colored winter hat that is what I think of as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">babushka</span>. It's my little Russian penguin. Every year I hang it on the tree, and think of someone who might one day come from Russia... but now may come from somewhere much, much closer. Tonight as I hung my little penguin center stage of my tree, he sparkled more than ever. He sparkled with hope, sweet hope, the thing with feathers that we all know perches in the soul... and sings the tune without the words... and never stops... at all.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-32660322951176102172008-11-19T19:02:00.000-08:002008-11-19T19:04:01.832-08:00More pictures from Cape Cod<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JAyJDth77B3hfe5d04O6b_RUX38WL5C6mbeW7yY7ewnqa6eDxSC0hAcrwn45bofPFlIN57Z8JkyWUl13EVcM3C29SQC_6zOrSUHe7qcW8FmdJWDG5pfXyJ7ICVvlxzBym466FqwFndg/s1600-h/cape.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270570133571157442" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JAyJDth77B3hfe5d04O6b_RUX38WL5C6mbeW7yY7ewnqa6eDxSC0hAcrwn45bofPFlIN57Z8JkyWUl13EVcM3C29SQC_6zOrSUHe7qcW8FmdJWDG5pfXyJ7ICVvlxzBym466FqwFndg/s400/cape.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU-5E54u0C69xhGW4AynRlMiphn6u8IbPx8FxVQ1JSIiQn2s3Y_7EkjhFSj4cTTbnEOnMG3eWfeU_5D7vZAx6hHmLx5xh6hlr9nqt_cNQF4dD16eptDUwWIQlc8uGlX35s6W1SPM3FhU/s1600-h/cape2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270570049077249682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU-5E54u0C69xhGW4AynRlMiphn6u8IbPx8FxVQ1JSIiQn2s3Y_7EkjhFSj4cTTbnEOnMG3eWfeU_5D7vZAx6hHmLx5xh6hlr9nqt_cNQF4dD16eptDUwWIQlc8uGlX35s6W1SPM3FhU/s400/cape2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I figure I should look through my old vacation photos in case it's a while before I take another trip. :) What a beautiful place!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-39075713113236048922008-11-19T19:00:00.000-08:002008-11-19T19:02:07.185-08:00And you thought your dog was cool...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3X3fe0xys5tzOhFUuzoBn66cnPs_MjTI5oEKw4QH7X-pqLUTfLgLbvfRHXNLKIq7r8yy6YYOHzpisG9UssZDB0ZsOEK5JXGhDCP0u6nck-ZTpeU0K9h61boerZQjI_X2-S6ZD5uJw2M/s1600-h/shades.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270569632275924578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3X3fe0xys5tzOhFUuzoBn66cnPs_MjTI5oEKw4QH7X-pqLUTfLgLbvfRHXNLKIq7r8yy6YYOHzpisG9UssZDB0ZsOEK5JXGhDCP0u6nck-ZTpeU0K9h61boerZQjI_X2-S6ZD5uJw2M/s400/shades.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-75281469730795240662008-11-16T21:12:00.001-08:002008-11-16T21:25:55.610-08:00Sorry my posts have been a little few and far between lately. I have been a bit preoccupied. And I imagine it's only going to get worse. :)<br /><br /><em>Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth.</em><br />Isaiah 43:5-6<br /><br />Admittedly, we are not going to have to go quite as far east as I had originally planned, (Russia/Eastern Europe) but we are going east...<br /><br /><em>For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him.</em><br />1 Samuel 1:27<br /><br />My heart is full with hope.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-52073628095520810872008-10-29T19:45:00.001-07:002008-10-29T19:46:21.334-07:00pictures I like<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu57xXA-_ojuJ9TLZb1-rfUASVYExmHgUipYyMGGe4Zg3AmH_pZ71W4GNrDpoRH_jkvHXpQLsPXi-KxqQEb8-UEs6dDE7FZ0R0EKYjRPN-4og1_CI7DU63k6zjKKuj00HYfd0YQQLnvl0/s1600-h/tflowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262772689380273618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu57xXA-_ojuJ9TLZb1-rfUASVYExmHgUipYyMGGe4Zg3AmH_pZ71W4GNrDpoRH_jkvHXpQLsPXi-KxqQEb8-UEs6dDE7FZ0R0EKYjRPN-4og1_CI7DU63k6zjKKuj00HYfd0YQQLnvl0/s400/tflowers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />my windowsill<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbYi8LEODfLhvwDMp940olC4Yjw41ScMZbmf8kskjb7RRa3H8TZp4XAAmy47oUinoco6Gi4CP8fTDni8FYaif9Z7vPmS4JSaYb9iVQl64FJdXz0SHxYMBaoleNn2eqjzvKUlNU9L26w/s1600-h/tbeach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262772685453283122" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbYi8LEODfLhvwDMp940olC4Yjw41ScMZbmf8kskjb7RRa3H8TZp4XAAmy47oUinoco6Gi4CP8fTDni8FYaif9Z7vPmS4JSaYb9iVQl64FJdXz0SHxYMBaoleNn2eqjzvKUlNU9L26w/s400/tbeach.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />mexicomelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-29582028388578214032008-10-29T19:43:00.000-07:002008-10-29T19:45:12.888-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3SfQ6F3_qZNdsp3_XYeoJmQ7jYbfe2ZJgNg3nVCS3xbYvtXLsFYCZnSIHneLBdIjPoxUNQurZ0MC5JWkxckm7RUYm4KyISxACbTtelHqS7Q3gwEEutdwc7mAfVohqVlNRECYPcfjRt4/s1600-h/tubby2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262772440730139186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3SfQ6F3_qZNdsp3_XYeoJmQ7jYbfe2ZJgNg3nVCS3xbYvtXLsFYCZnSIHneLBdIjPoxUNQurZ0MC5JWkxckm7RUYm4KyISxACbTtelHqS7Q3gwEEutdwc7mAfVohqVlNRECYPcfjRt4/s400/tubby2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5XzthtN5GKYtBcfHTN8FDeYTtnZSF1NKr5Hm2R1NBn-BZYwIQkek1v3SHHX2VJbA3NStxaY7la7pTuWpWXotAn7WbQP9mDOrNsZb3bfx5_qU1kTA_ZdJrf68buNLVddFOwQfTu3RDMI/s1600-h/tubby.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262772433990661106" style="WIDTH: 342px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5XzthtN5GKYtBcfHTN8FDeYTtnZSF1NKr5Hm2R1NBn-BZYwIQkek1v3SHHX2VJbA3NStxaY7la7pTuWpWXotAn7WbQP9mDOrNsZb3bfx5_qU1kTA_ZdJrf68buNLVddFOwQfTu3RDMI/s400/tubby.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I found some old pictures of my good ol' goldfish Tubby. Rest in peace, Tubby!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-33032951239385692792008-10-22T17:14:00.001-07:002008-10-22T17:15:26.610-07:00It's only hair!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvrcCP_7jxqVz1m9wI0ddlCIGT9nByxkJfX3_Jv10SRONgPO3cGVwJ5jxRAvhr1ZlsbSHj-Sd853jMYX9GWAqayWsCmy6pgClWZHNZdW2lxsVI4PwKa3ulWAbA33eSvJD1NT71AjEc4c/s1600-h/hair1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260136282194410882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvrcCP_7jxqVz1m9wI0ddlCIGT9nByxkJfX3_Jv10SRONgPO3cGVwJ5jxRAvhr1ZlsbSHj-Sd853jMYX9GWAqayWsCmy6pgClWZHNZdW2lxsVI4PwKa3ulWAbA33eSvJD1NT71AjEc4c/s400/hair1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2mk0TUtFbhGufurFC8EJf0ZGR4WJe_F5PxySJ1zX0GJuA2F4fwsak_VahR5tbTGQJo7ig5tr5R3VGRWGsqicOnbzLu81jYHfJvoJ-wtJEX_yD7mTQ5h7Lkyaii5tFLxXV-c2VpngWJ4/s1600-h/hair3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260136278391174258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2mk0TUtFbhGufurFC8EJf0ZGR4WJe_F5PxySJ1zX0GJuA2F4fwsak_VahR5tbTGQJo7ig5tr5R3VGRWGsqicOnbzLu81jYHfJvoJ-wtJEX_yD7mTQ5h7Lkyaii5tFLxXV-c2VpngWJ4/s400/hair3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gyT3N3KiK3QdQdKCsEATy5MxwjDMyTofDRdkzxQCVeNmDIox3aE0apP8t4N4mzn7-Di48pv4X0BOCnQ_yIvjkqlwPkSRwZzTNy36-rDca9s-p0N16wFubQ7T9w7rcC067FKMEbKjWz0/s1600-h/hair2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260136269368764978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gyT3N3KiK3QdQdKCsEATy5MxwjDMyTofDRdkzxQCVeNmDIox3aE0apP8t4N4mzn7-Di48pv4X0BOCnQ_yIvjkqlwPkSRwZzTNy36-rDca9s-p0N16wFubQ7T9w7rcC067FKMEbKjWz0/s400/hair2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-34955033575921116802008-10-22T16:47:00.000-07:002008-10-22T17:14:08.338-07:00FEEL THE PUNCH!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0te6Z_tR3L0LSd4507NBuU9WFOoD_SDARzBJz00Jv5XPayF5H7kHpN0Tsjah8GfU-szKIqL5fK-BdBn1jJiivJKl_rK0BJNodyH918a2m93HuOB6YFCh9GlQ5aQJRXduBqvR72nOM0E/s1600-h/GLOVES.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260134645532666338" style="WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0te6Z_tR3L0LSd4507NBuU9WFOoD_SDARzBJz00Jv5XPayF5H7kHpN0Tsjah8GfU-szKIqL5fK-BdBn1jJiivJKl_rK0BJNodyH918a2m93HuOB6YFCh9GlQ5aQJRXduBqvR72nOM0E/s400/GLOVES.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you would like to donate, you can visit Michele's page here:<br /><br /><a href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY09Mid-South?px=8015219&pg=personal&fr_id=11697&et=y8yUu1fM6wU5i-WaoVR5kA..&s_tafId=194216">http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY09Mid-South?px=8015219&pg=personal&fr_id=11697&et=y8yUu1fM6wU5i-WaoVR5kA..&s_tafId=194216</a><br /><br />and my page here:<br /><a href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY09Mid-South?px=8128269&pg=personal&fr_id=11697">http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY09Mid-South?px=8128269&pg=personal&fr_id=11697</a><br /><br />To those of you who have already donated....thank you...melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-33097656477384338622008-10-22T16:34:00.000-07:002008-10-22T17:16:05.021-07:00FEEL THE PUNCH! (That's our slogan. We say it often. :) )My boss. Oh, my boss. She is quite the trooper. I admire her for that. And for her sassy spirit. For how she always knows just what to do. For her caring and kind ways. For the way she appreciates me. For her sense of humor. For her strength. And for her courage.<br /><br />I'm walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk this Saturday. My boss started a "little" team for the walk and named us the Fighting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Striders</span> of Smyrna. She sent out a few e-mails and set our goal at $5,000.00. A few weeks later, our team is 65 walkers and growing, and we have raised nearly $19,000.00. Three people at work shaved their heads slick (and two of them are women!) and I dyed my hair pink in honor of the cause. It has pretty much faded now, to a nice fall shade of red, but I will post some pictures of it that were taken the day after I did it.<br /><br />I'm so proud of us! We are the number two team for fundraising in Middle Tennessee - right behind <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">O'Charley's</span>. And <em>they</em> have like 130 stores in 15 states or something. (I did used to work there, so that might not be right, but it's probably not too far off.) We're just a little group of Smyrna-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nites</span> who said to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">O'Charley's</span>, and to cancer.....FEEL THE PUNCH!!melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-450839743290769232008-10-04T17:45:00.000-07:002008-10-05T11:06:58.654-07:00Music :)I know I've said this before - it's rare that I like a song the very first time I hear it. Most songs for me are not only about the way they sound, but what the lyrics say and mean to me, and the emotions and memories that are wrapped up in them. So to hear a song and like it before I know what the lyrics mean yet, and before it's personal to me in any way yet, is always surprising.<br /><br />It happened with the Floating Men in a big way. Kevin and I had not been dating too long. Our relationship was new enough that I was happily spending my day off riding around with him while he paid bills and ran errands. I remember we were at the Handy Mart on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Northfield</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Murfreesboro</span>. He was going inside to buy us something to drink, and just before he got out of the truck he put in a CD and said, "See if you like this." It was the Floating Men, and I did. I went out the next day and bought every single CD they had, <em>and </em>a CD player for my car. The next day! It was that good. And 10 years later, I still love 'em.<br /><br />It's happened again - just today. I've heard of Kings of Leon, but I've never really listened to them. Today while I was cleaning, I kept hearing some commercial on TV over and over again for their new CD. I could tell just from the little snippets they played that I would like it. So I just downloaded the whole CD - and I love it.<br /><br />I love it when that happens. It's the little things, right?melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-2858627685705909552008-09-30T19:55:00.000-07:002008-09-30T20:08:18.207-07:00hmmmmm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoLRV5u_2VoXdzCCh6AD0E0xz7VBxyh4CpRAst38sNOXOCOrNu4kxNl41CE_vDxem92zCIZPDlJBJ_WJpO_0mTQ5hcwdquFTpFgBP1cKun_Kim6inUXdGIWnu39lwYKxNrMWnwW7sB5Y/s1600-h/rainbow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252016582916816034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoLRV5u_2VoXdzCCh6AD0E0xz7VBxyh4CpRAst38sNOXOCOrNu4kxNl41CE_vDxem92zCIZPDlJBJ_WJpO_0mTQ5hcwdquFTpFgBP1cKun_Kim6inUXdGIWnu39lwYKxNrMWnwW7sB5Y/s400/rainbow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, you just never know what's around the corner, just like I said last night.<br />The particular surprise around the corner to which I am referring, however, could be a good thing.<br />It's just too early to tell.<br />So I won't say anything else, other than ...hmmmm.....you just never know what's going to fall from the sky.<br />And no, it's probably not what you're thinking.<br />Matter of fact, I would give you 500 guesses, and feel pretty safe you wouldn't get it.<br />That's all for now.<br />Cross your fingers.<br />Stay tuned.<br />Enjoy Somewhere Over the Rainbow - look over to the left and up a little. </div><div>Click play.<br />Let yourself dream a little.<br />You just never know what might happen.</div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-24306144653691827652008-09-29T21:10:00.001-07:002008-09-29T21:19:07.926-07:00Cancer sucksCancer took both of my grandmothers. One when I was seven years old, and one when I was 33. On Labor Day weekend this year, it took my friend Jason. And now every day I watch my boss struggling with it. Struggling to hold it together when she talks about what will happen. Struggling to walk. Struggling to think clearly. Struggling to complete tasks at work. Struggling to even make it into work. Struggling to get to treatment. Struggling to just keep going.<br /><br />I don't have anything especially profound or insightful to say about any of this. Just that it sucks to see people hurting. It sucks to feel helpless and scared. It sucks that there's not a cure. It sucks that sometimes it seems like cancer is everywhere.<br /><br />It really puts things into perspective, and reminds me that life is short, our times together are precious, and you just never know what's around the corner.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-8743590421313347622008-09-19T21:12:00.000-07:002008-09-19T21:15:16.708-07:00Today I learned...1. Chili made with Boca soy burger is pretty tasty.<br />2. My boss is pretty awesome. (I didn't really learn that today - I already knew it - she just greatly reinforced it today.)<br /><br />Surely there is more, but this is all that comes to mind.<br /><br />Happy weekend!melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8874794448616690840.post-86876459236468119232008-09-17T18:40:00.003-07:002008-09-17T19:48:17.838-07:00I'm a posting fool tonight...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6dXWD_ZDSlyCIGd7rUXTRioDxNVHmWJrX8xNOe6c7Ij-8tKgTpddqV2zM6sQvnKQzBpTTxA20YOvl68-BfSTnUCC6WCnO5vya5ttxuXWqRupSMQCTpvNgK4qWLr3mYy6vlgoruuAoI0/s1600-h/r1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247187419049206658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6dXWD_ZDSlyCIGd7rUXTRioDxNVHmWJrX8xNOe6c7Ij-8tKgTpddqV2zM6sQvnKQzBpTTxA20YOvl68-BfSTnUCC6WCnO5vya5ttxuXWqRupSMQCTpvNgK4qWLr3mYy6vlgoruuAoI0/s400/r1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I don't think I ever posted any photos from our trip to Vegas earlier in the year. Here are some random favorites. This is where we stayed.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlpvwYzOXe-nsEsgQMAE3IuxwVNoHJo5D98sHg2njBmtFjlZ3r8sQlienLbyAXPpbCkpdSdZyN32DYIWPo70wQE7QWYLnjrX1DCUHjaL0gNcYV8tp9HZGY5bel-SqnA2b52QT_TEXAcg/s1600-h/r2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247187423852285682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlpvwYzOXe-nsEsgQMAE3IuxwVNoHJo5D98sHg2njBmtFjlZ3r8sQlienLbyAXPpbCkpdSdZyN32DYIWPo70wQE7QWYLnjrX1DCUHjaL0gNcYV8tp9HZGY5bel-SqnA2b52QT_TEXAcg/s400/r2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I just like this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIj5qXTPQSYRk1XzCC3a5apjVZOvkgnHYqmun5swqoLNGaAEAOq9nuv-e-Am5-SArLUtymeR6s9mRdxuk-6ZM4vCODf-uhOTJU7mPd6V3uP9yyyTdKMj24jiHhccWzmVC75fSU6pgFAo/s1600-h/r3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247187431125286962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIj5qXTPQSYRk1XzCC3a5apjVZOvkgnHYqmun5swqoLNGaAEAOq9nuv-e-Am5-SArLUtymeR6s9mRdxuk-6ZM4vCODf-uhOTJU7mPd6V3uP9yyyTdKMj24jiHhccWzmVC75fSU6pgFAo/s400/r3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, there is glass between us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3yox9DKt5jXS-lYbsDSObcssc3acTQYtBygDDvdLZRvZW8PakYnNNfOZqe_WsTEGV9E28gek8pRAwJfUMeS-K7hADCtgq06DlfHDfGFfguQMh9WkA_u_vfu7GuFL0LOsy3Pmhyb2lgA/s1600-h/rabbit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247187134214647538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3yox9DKt5jXS-lYbsDSObcssc3acTQYtBygDDvdLZRvZW8PakYnNNfOZqe_WsTEGV9E28gek8pRAwJfUMeS-K7hADCtgq06DlfHDfGFfguQMh9WkA_u_vfu7GuFL0LOsy3Pmhyb2lgA/s400/rabbit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>We saw this rabbit one day on the way out, and I just had to take his picture.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534060616775876923noreply@blogger.com0